The Whites were seemingly in control and ahead at half-time following a Luciano Becchio goal on 24 minutes from a Jermaine Beckford cross and were unlucky not to be further in front as the Argentine striker also hit the woodwork with a header.

But Beckford was taken off injured at half-time, to be replaced by Robert Snodgrass, and the game changed as Leeds came under more pressure.

The hosts levelled on 71 minutes when Adam Boyd struck with a fine shot from distance and looked to push on, only to be hit against the run of play when Leeds forced a corner and Becchio netted again from close range.

Casper Ankergren made a good save in the closing stages and it looked like Leeds would hold on for a valuable three points, but in the last minute of injury time Anthony Sweeney climbed well to head home a free-kick and with no time to reply it was a bitter pill for Simon Grayson's men to swallow.

At least they were relieved to hear that they did not lose ground on their main rivals in League One with leaders Norwich losing 2-1 at Millwall and Charlton drawing 1-1 at Swindon.

Match facts
Hartlepool United 2
(Boyd 71, Sweeney 90)
Leeds United 2
(Becchio 24, 79)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Coca-Cola League One
Att: 5,115
Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Liddle, Humphreys (Jones 58), Gamble, Boyd, Larkin (Behan 45).
Leeds: Ankergren, Bromby, Michalik, Naylor, Lowry, Gradel, Howson, Doyle, McSheffrey (Johnson 86), Becchio, Beckford (Snodgrass 45).
Referee: S Mathieson.